Think like a hacker or security professional
Cybersecurity focuses on keeping computers, networks, and data safe from unauthorised access, attack, and damage. Study this subject if you have a curious mind and like to know how things work.
Our teaching covers people, processes, and technology. This is a technical subject—but you’ll graduate aware of the legal and ethical issues around cybersecurity. You’ll gain the analytical, communication, and teamwork skills needed to excel in this profession.
Cybersecurity courses have a strong practical and hands-on focus, backed by theory and an understanding of cybersecurity trends.
What you’ll learn
Through your studies, you’ll build practical cybersecurity skills.
You will:
- learn about cybersecurity threats, attacks, defences, and penetration-testing techniques
- use cryptography and secure design principles to build and protect systems
- study social engineering and why people are often the weakest point in security
- work with industry-standard software and tools to assess and implement network security
- learn how to manage risk and develop policies, procedures, and controls to keep systems secure.
Engineering or Science pathway
We offer two main undergraduate pathways into Cybersecurity—through a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (BE(Hons)) or a Bachelor of Science (BSc).
The BE(Hons) majoring in Cybersecurity Engineering is the more technical and in-depth option, focused on designing and building secure systems. You gain a strong foundation in cybersecurity.
Alternatively, you can study Cybersecurity as a specialisation in a BSc majoring in Computer Science. This pathway combines core Computer Science with selected Cybersecurity courses, giving you a broader computing degree with some cybersecurity expertise.
Choose your study path
In-depth study through a BE(Hons)
A four-year BE(Hons) degree majoring in Cybersecurity Engineering gives you the most in-depth study of this subject. Our BE(Hons) is the only degree in Australasia with Cybersecurity Engineering as a named subject. It’s also accredited under the Washington Accord, giving you an internationally recognised engineering qualification.
The BE(Hons) gives you training and a qualification as a professional engineer. You’ll learn about professional practice and project management with 800 hours of work experience in two different engineering environments.
You’ll also be able to take some courses in different subjects.
The final-year project in the BE(Hons) lets you apply your learnings to an engineering problem. You might:
- build a new security tool
- evaluate new security technology
- apply machine learning to solving security issues.
Add a specialisation to your Bachelor of Science
You can study Cybersecurity as a specialisation in the Computer Science major in the Bachelor of Science.
For this specialisation, you'll need to meet the requirements of the Computer Science major and complete these six Cybersecurity and Network Engineering courses:
- Cybersecurity Fundamentals (CYBR 171)
- Code Security (CYBR 271)
- Systems Programming (NWEN 241)
- Clouds and Networking (NWEN 243)
- System and Network Security (CYBR 371)
- Applied Cryptography (CYBR 372).
Add Cybersecurity electives to your degree
If you’re interested in Cybersecurity, but want to focus your BE(Hons) in another area, you could major in Software Engineering and include some Cybersecurity courses as electives.
Or, if you’re doing a different degree, you could take Cybersecurity courses as electives. For example, Cybersecurity courses pair well with a Bachelor of Science majoring in AI or Data Science.
Cybersecurity courses can also go well with other areas of study, such as:
- business and finance
- criminology
- international relations
- IT
- psychology.
Related privacy micro-credential
Wellington Uni Professional offers a short, self-paced online course on Privacy in the Public Sector. The course is taught by professors from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
This short course might suit you if you’re a mid-career professional who wants to upskill your knowledge or add privacy expertise to your toolkit.
Degree support and advice
We can help you match your interests and career goals with the right course of study.
If you’re a new student, talk to a Future Student Adviser.
If you’re already studying with us, talk to Tītoko—Student Success.
Study options
Find out how you can study Cybersecurity at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Sample degree plan
See how your Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) could look if you choose the Cybersecurity Engineering major.
Download a sample study plan.
- Cybersecurity Engineering sample PDF 487.81 KB
Future careers
There are great career prospects and job security in the area of cybersecurity—the demand grows every year.
Our graduates get entry-level roles as:
- security engineers
- security consultants
- penetration testers.
With some work experience, you could be a:
- senior security consultant
- governance risk and compliance expert
- security manager.
All of these professionals are in high demand.
More career information
Find out more about careers in engineering.
The government careers website, Tahatū, offers more information about jobs, salaries, and current opportunities.
Scholarships
You may be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies.
- The Graham Kelly Engineering and Computer Science Scholarships for Pasifika Students
- Fujitsu Cyber Security Services Scholarships
- GCSB Women in STEM Scholarship
- Ballinger Rongotai Scholarships
Other scholarships
We have first-year and school-leaver scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It’s a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships for Engineering
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These scholarships are for students of Pasifika ethnicity from Porirua or surrounding areas who are enrolling or intending to enrol in an undergraduate course in the School of Engineering and Computer Science at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
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The fund, which was established at the time of the renovation of the C3 lecture theatre, is to assist a second-year student from any faculty in their studies at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
Scholarships for international students
We are currently offering a NZ$15,000 VUW Undergraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Bachelor’s degree.
Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.
We also offer specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It’s a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships for Engineering
There could be a scholarship for your qualification, subject area, background, or situation.
Further study
If you do well in your undergraduate study, you can continue on to postgraduate study with us.
You could add 400-level Cybersecurity courses to a Master of Engineering (ME), or focus on a cybersecurity topic in a research thesis for an ME or a PhD.
The School of Engineering and Computer Science has a research group dedicated to cybersecurity:
Get help to manage your finances
We can help you:
- budget your money
- manage your student loan or allowance
- work out your accommodation payment schedule.
If you're facing financial difficulties, we can help you apply for the Hardship Fund.
You may be eligible for government or community support, too.
Wellington Global Exchange
If you're a current student at Victoria University of Wellington, you can complete part of your degree overseas. Choose from our 140 partner universities worldwide.
Study Abroad and Exchange Programme
If you're an overseas student, you can spend a trimester or a year at Victoria University of Wellington. You'll earn credits at your home university while you study here.